The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-10-11
A CHAPLAIN AFLOAT !
BEING THE ACCOUNT OF THE CRUISE
OF II. b. MS SHIP OF WAR THE
BLUNpERBUss FROM PANAMA,
L. 8. OF c. TO HONOLULU, H. I.
Extracted IRON the Records Of the Archaic
Club.
BY PERCIvAL LESLIE.


ship weighed anchor, and proudly
steaming out of the bay, was soon
noising the singing waters of the
restless Pacific, bound for Payta, a
seaport of Peru, some few hundred
miles away. The noise and hurry
of departure had subsidized and the
ship had settled down to the regular
sea routine, when the Chaplain
emerging from the ward room wan
dered about the deck to take a great
and uninterrupted survey of the sur
roundings. After apparently salts
flying his curiosity, he took seat on
the forecastle, and lighting cigar,
settled himself to listen to the chat
ter Of the loquacious midshipman
who had again collared himself, was
pouring into his ear delicious bit
of SANDER. The letting of which
was happily for the listener, cut
short by the gentleman being invited
to step ,helsw-to'TfiTl pace at
then forming card party. Being
left alone, the Chaplain began gaz-
ing about him. 1t was one of those
magnificent moonlight nights that
can only be seen on the Pacific.
The ocean rolled noisily on, dashing
its spray high on the ships sides,
and the wind whistled a poetic
weired song through the rigging.
The sentry paced to and fro on the
forecastle near him and the sea
watch, conversed in low tones, or
stretched at weary lengths on the
deck, snored an accompaniment to
the winds. After a few moments of
curious wonderment the Chaplain
felt strange, and apparently I'M
accountable uneasiness in the region
of his stomach, it lasted but for a
moment, and then passed away.
The ocean was now running high,
and each succeeding wave seemed
to grow higher than the other, car
rying the ship about like a straw.
Now down she would go, nose first
into the briny deep, throwing her
stern high into the air. Now the
bow would wend its way heavenward
then quickly descending settled
down again. Then as a matter of
change she would take to rolling, at
one time throwing the Reverend
gentleman and his chair some dis
lance across the deck. Gathering |
himself up, and securely placing his
chair against the railing he sat in
silent wonder gazing upon the sea.
A second time the same feeling |
crept into his stomach and almost
sent his dinnerinto his mouth, whilst
a whirling sensation took possession
of his head. Thinking that more
comfort could be had in his bed, he
arose with the intention of returning
to the ward room, when tremend-
ous sea, rushed over the forecastle,
and falling upon his anointed shouls
ders, wet him through and through,
and sent him in heap, right into
the lap of an old tar, who was gently
smoking his evening pipe.
"Hello there What's the matter?"
gruffiy growled the maps-o'-war-
man.
The Chaplain answered with a
groan, and clutching him
wildly by the arms, struggled to
regain his equilibrium. When with
assistance he finally stood erect, and
was piloted to ehair--his conduc-
or inquired with a gentleness of
oriny roughness-"Are you sick,
,ir?'
''No," responded the Chaplain,
but feel so strangely"
"Just so-you want grog and air
Air and grog, sir--are the only
,hings." Turning a quid fondly in
lis mouth, and sticking his hands
almost elbow deep in his pockets,
,he old Tar, turned on his heels,
md again taking his seat, resumed
lis interrupted enjoyment of his pipe,
with so placid an air, that one to
zee him would never imagine that
anything out of the usual rotine had
occurred,
In few moments the stomach
# the Reverend Officer went through
several preparatory heaving exer-
Uses, and then with an alacrity un-
usual to one of his years, and sacred
.lothe, he bounded from his chair to
he railing, and there leaning over,
began the involuntary act of empt-
ng into the sea, the dinner he had
With such satisfactions lately taken,
,nly being too thankful, that circum
stances rouse so fortunate, as not to
'eauirs bis following the dinner to
its safe Judgement.
In an hour he was assisted to his
Dom, limped. weak and spirit
broken thing-so inanimate yet
llive-a fitting thing for the anus
ng sympathy of his brother officer.
On the evening of the second day
,ut, at about 5 O'Clock, the Blunder-
,uss was hailed as follows by stem
orian voice-''Boat ah0y, where
wayr" The Chaplain CHANGED to
,e on deck at the time, and nervous
Y started at the sound. "What
ould il mean" he unused. There
rere no boats in sight, not even a
pot of ground-nothlng gould be
cen off all sides, except the never
pdin0 rollino dashinU sea. Whilst